The report on the May 14 elections is cleared/ OSCE-ODIHR recommendations: Investigate the allegations

2023-09-29 19:07:00, Aktualitet CNA

The report on the May 14 elections is cleared/ OSCE-ODIHR recommendations:

The OSCE-ODIHR mission has published this Friday the report on the local elections of May 14 in Albania, where SP won most of the municipalities.

OSCE-ODIHR calls for an investigation into allegations of electoral violations, including vote buying, voter pressure and misuse of administrative resources.

It also suggests that the authorities make a sincere effort to raise awareness of the long-standing phenomenon of vote buying and the dangers it poses to the integrity of elections.

Excerpts from the report:

PRIOR RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Law enforcement bodies must make every effort to identify and independently investigate all allegations of election violations, including vote buying, voter pressure and misuse of administrative resources, in a thorough manner, timely and transparent. Voters should be systematically informed of applicable mechanisms for reporting violations, including whistleblower protections and safeguards against consequences.

2. The authorities should make sincere efforts to raise awareness of the long-standing phenomenon of vote buying and the dangers it poses to the integrity of elections. Public denunciation of such practices before and during the campaign by key stakeholders, including state officials and party leaders, can serve as a potential deterrent.

3. To guarantee the secrecy of the vote and to prevent voter intimidation, group and proxy voting, the authorities must implement effective procedural safeguards.

4. To ensure a comprehensive and consistent electoral framework, all decision-making entities, including the parliament, its political parties and other electoral stakeholders, must commit to meaningful electoral reforms and address all ODIHR recommendations- it.

5. Legal provisions related to the campaign, including those against misuse of administrative resources, should be reviewed to remove ambiguities and ensure a level playing field. Authorities, including election administrations and law enforcement bodies, must treat all election contestants equally.

6. Authorities should ensure proper implementation of the Right to Information Law, decriminalize defamation and support independent journalism.

7. In accordance with the previous recommendations of the ODIHR and to guarantee the stability of the election administration, the revision of the system of appointment of the members and secretaries of the low-level election administration should be considered. Measures should be taken to exclude arbitrary replacements of members of the electoral administration.

8. Media use of material produced by parties or state authorities in news and information programs should be avoided or limited in exceptional cases, especially during election campaigns. Whenever broadcast, such material must be clearly identified as content produced by political contestants as required by law. Sanctions should be established and enforced for violations related to identification requirements.

9. The by-laws that regulate the electoral process must be approved in a timely manner to guarantee legality, security, effective preparation and public understanding.

10. Electoral administration, political parties and civil society should strive to further improve voter education programs, especially in the regions. Attention can be paid to adaptation initiatives for the needs of national minorities, especially Roma and Egyptians, and voters with disabilities.

11. To increase transparency and increase public confidence, adequate resources should be allocated well in advance to ensure effective preparation and meaningful independent public scrutiny of election technologies.

12. Authorities should better familiarize voters with electoral technologies and provide equal access to the voting process. Measures should be taken to allow voters using new technologies to cast those ballots independently and in complete secrecy.

13. Local authorities and electoral administrations should strengthen their efforts to ensure the accessibility of voting centers for persons with disabilities and to improve their independent access to the electoral process./ CNA